What to buy to look vaguely civilised/up to date

[Bristolnewcomer]

I need help! I’ve had a tough couple of years including bereavement and having my first child. As a result I haven’t been shopping since the midi dress and trainers era RIP and all my clothes are now basically supermarket jeans and cheap oversized T-shirts and I look, quite frankly, crap and a bit depressed. Back at work now and have a small budget to get some new clothes and I have a personal shopper session booked (gift) at JL, but I have no clue what I need to get myself looking even vaguely up to date or nice.

Specifically:

• what are people wearing out for coffee/lunch?
• What looks nice for work (sometimes have meetings with very cool people)
• what tops and top layers over jeans?
• what shoes would say I realise it’s the mid 2020s?

I’m a 14 5’6 and look a lot better in tailored shapes like blazers than big woolly things

Has anybody tried Muji jeans?

I’m not up to date and haven’t heard of half of the places listed on here, but my favourite outfits right now are:
short jumper dresses with DMs
slouchy trouser suit for work with a tucked in merino jumper
mini skirt from Arket with tights and DMs
dark rolled up jeans and a fluffy cropped bright cardigan

A work wardrobe depends so much on the industry and culture. I am a university lecturer and the general style among my colleagues tends to be quite casual. You mentioned that you sometimes have meetings with cool people. Are you in a more creative field?

So this may or may not be relevant for you, but my current work wardrobe includes straight and wide leg trousers (wool, cord, and cotton, depending on the weather), short cardigans, blazers (including knit and fairly unstructured). I also wear skirts and dresses with tights or leggings (a fashion faux pas for some but I like the look). I just bought a wool coat (with a huge discount, a real bargain) that I think enhances my outfits and adds some polish.

For lunch or coffee, my current go to outfit is wide leg cord trousers, a chunky cardigan, and trainers or ankle boots.

A decent wool coat will dress up most outfits! Slightly oversized looks better at the moment than more fitted.

Get a few decent basics you can mix and match, a good boxy white and or black tshirt, a few jumpers, a blazer, again go for slightly oversized or boxy. A smart belt (doesn’t need a logo) and a leather tote for work and casual that you can fling a couple of nappies and packs of melty sticks in if you need.

Wide leg trousers, wool, cord, or even a wide leg jogger type if you’re on mum duty - I wear some navy pinstripe ones from ASOS with some retro looking smarter trainers (Adidas, Onitsuka Tiger) & a boxy tee and a jumper or cardi for casual days at work.

Jeans - wide or straight leg with trainers or boots (good way to make your ankle boots get another winter, hems should cover most of boot.

Still see people wearing skinnies, I think all denim is okay at the moment. I wear mine like I did in the early 00’s with ballet pumps or tucked into boots. Still think they dress up well. Avoid rips though!

Also I am 37, really rather rating M&S at the moment for workwear basics and jumpers.

Cos are good for very thick, cotton boxy T-shirts.

I'd quite like to be described as that

😆 brilliant!

@MeandEmLover I ordered this maxi skirt:

serenabutelondon.com/products/graphic-poppy-full-maxi-skirt-white-red

I love the print. I wear a lot of red, white and black so this is perfect for me.

It's fabulous.

@HundredMilesAnHour I absolutely agree with @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle that skirt is very fabulous! Well bought!!

Thanks for the brilliant suggestions and it’s really good to hear what other people are wearing at the moment.

The trouble with tops is “boxy T-shirts” and shirts etc don’t seem to work on me, is it because my boobs are too big (G)? Makes me look less “chic work lady” and more “ready to do some DIY”. Would better brands/fabrics help? I really miss v necks and more interesting necklines.

Tucking it in? Wearing a belt over the top to cinch something in? Cardigans can be useful here as I think break up any boxiness.

I with you with the big boobs, everything is so boxy at the moment. Shirts are awful on me unless they're fitted which most aren't these days. I need fitted otherwise things just hang, and as my sister once so lovingly put it, I look pregnant.

Amazon have some v-neck jumpers, Primark have some v-neck fitted t-shirts (they can be hard to find though). I'm currently living in M&S thermal scoop neck long sleeved tops. The scoop is just the right scoop for me to not have a matronly shelf.

I bought some jumpers from Superdry about 5 years ago, weirdly they're crew neck, but they're okay for general day to day because they're cut well and don't have dropped shoulders which add bulk to my bust area I find.

I’m little and big boobed, but the Cos ones work well on me with a loose blazer over them for work. They are very thick cotton.

I think this is a really good summary. But if you don't like mary jane flats (I hate them) then consider loafers, anywhere from pretty chunky to more refined gucci-type (zara are good for these)

tucking in and belts are both v big at the moment. Silk shirts, albeit loose and flowing, if half tucked can give definition at the waist and accommodate boobs

I needed to give myself makeover recently. I looked through every website and catalogue I could. Has anyone mentioned JoeBrowns? It was the most colourful. It was what I needed to shake myself up.
I also wore more dresses and skirts, gave up on the easy option of living in jeans and trainers. New underwear made a real difference to my silhouette.

Joe Browns isn’t great quality I find.
I get a lot from Uniqlo, it is well made, decent fitting and unobtrusive.
Good for casual not so good for dressy wear.
They have v-necks.
I don’t understand boxy t-shirts but then I am 5’10 and … built like I can pull a plough. They make me look even more like I’m going to lift tiny colleagues on to my shoulders at any moment.

I bought a couple of cotton dresses from Joe Browns in lockdown, for drifting around in the local park. The quality was okay for that sort of thing, but not great. Most of their stuff doesn't appeal to me at all though, and it's definitely not what I assume the OP meant by, 'Up to date' although that in itself never bothers me much.

I struggle with Uniqlo - I don't think it's designed for people with busts.

I think if selectively chosen M&S are a very good place to pick up bits & pieces. They've really upped their game in recent months & I see lots of inspiration (dupes!) Taken from Sezane, Wyse London etc but for a fraction of the price.

Definitely worth a browse

I struggle with uniqlo's website never mind the clothes

It’s awful!

I bought a ton of stuff when I was travelling in Japan - I'm 5'1" yet struggle with trouser lengths as they're always too long or too short still, but Uniqlo were perfect (I don't think you can get many short lengths on their UK site though). They do have some nice wool-look smart trousers though which I wear for travelling in.

I'm a 32DD and find their tops fit me fine, especially the built-in bra vest tops - I love them. (Full disclaimer though my boobs aren't real so maybe I need less support in that area!)

If you love skirts and dresses, I’d look at getting some that could work with breastfeeding and chasing a small child. That helped me feel more like me because it was what I enjoy wearing. Shirt dresses are good for this, but others can work too.